I'm not getting any traction over on the S10 page, so hopefully someone here will know.
I can't get my starter to disengage.
2001 S10 4x4 4.3L V6. I had just replaced the 4L60e. Used the exact same flex plate as before, exact same starter as before. It worked fine for half a dozen starts while I was testing things.
It decides it's going to stick and not disengage.
Here are the things I have done:
- Thought it was yet another bad ignition switch, so I changed the ignition switch (it already had a fairly new one, but I had a new AC Delco spare on hand)
- Thought the starter took a crap, so I put a different (used but in good shape) starter from a junkyard in
- Thought the starter might be binding on the flywheel, so I shimmed the "new" starter to .020"
- Then shimmed "new" starter to .040"
- Then shimmed "new" starter to .100"
- I have put a test light on the small wire at the starter (the one that engages the starter). It is on when the key is in start, but goes out as soon as I let off the key, so there isn't a crossed wire keeping that wire hot.
- I have bench tested both starters. The "old" one is a little noisy, but does not ever get stuck running. The "new" one sounds like a new one, and does not ever get stuck.
- We pulled the starter, put it in my '97 'burb. Did about 10 starts with absolutely no issue.
- Before we put it back in the S10, I took off the little metal ring that is bolted to the block and goes around the nose cone. It worked great for about 5 starts, and I thought it was working, but then it stuck again.
- I put the last shim in the pack in, making it a total of .120" in shims. Still sticking.
It only disengages when I disconnect a battery cable.
I've spend a whole day on it. I have to leave it with my son in California and go home to Arizona for work tomorrow. I'm at my wit's end! Please help!